What a Wonderful World...^^

These are the pictures we took when we were at Haneul Park or Sky Park..& Nami Island.

The blue sky is what makes it even more beautiful. 

The green leaves on the trees...the vast meadow...

gives a perfect backdrop for Freya's Gangnam Style-esque pose. 

A picturesque place to be....

What could be more picturesquely breathtaking than this?

Got lost in the midst of tall grass whatever-their-names-are:) :D 

 along the path finding her way out... 

Sunset over Haneul Park overlooking Seoul city with its Han river...

Selamat Balik ke Tanah Air, Pak Ikhwan

Mr. Ikhwan just officially finished his 2-year term of teaching Indonesian language at HUFS College of Malay-Indonesian Interpretation and Translation. I was surprised to find out about this. I thought that he would be staying here a another year or so. But I was wrong. So, the other day after Jumatan prayer, I bumped into him and that's the time when he told me that he would be leaving for Indonesia on Saturday, Feb. 23. 

This is the picture we took in front of Itaewon Masjid on Feb. 22, 2013.

Selamat berkarya di Makassar, Indonesia, Pak Ikhwan. 

From Autumn to Winter

Different time, same spot.

Winter and Autumn 2013.

On our way to go somewhere, at times we go through the campus leading to HUFS subway station. 

Got this idea of taking pictures at the same spot each time we go pass this road.

The CUFS building is being built. A good way to keep the memories alive.

The snow just been cleared...

What happened in the last few days...

- It's been a few days after my wife got back from Jogjakarta. She was in Jogja for two weeks not for a vacation but to see how Mom was doing. She was hospitalized due to her kidney problem --again. But, thank God that she is not back home . .in health. *Wait...I am sure that my wife also DID have a little taste of vacation in between. How could she be able to resist the temptation of all the mouth-watering local food available back home..? ^^
- The kids were so excited to find out that their Mom's back home now. I just loved to see the gleaming and starry eyes as well as the  unconcealable(?) excitement on their face:)

- The night we were waiting for their Mom, I made them some fruits salad of my own version. Since we just could not find what fruits we had in store, I just use the available fruits ...mixed them might as well...just to make it into a bowl of fruit salad: the courtesy of their Dad's unimaginative rendition of what a salad should have been.^^

COlor ClAy 방과후 학교

Since she 3 years old, back then in Indonesia, Eyra has been an avid lover of play-doh or color clay. So, it is  not surprising to see her choose 'color clay' as one of her extra curricular or after-class activities at 청량초등학교. Cheongryang Elementray School. These are what she made for the first five meetings.  

I think I got the point of what the purpose of this color-clay class: the students are taught to pay attention more on the details even to the smallest stuffs. Well, I guess that might be of help for the student's concentration skills. 

Then, on Xmas last year, the students were asked to create these lovely snowmen. What a cute little masterpiece it is. 

Not to mention, the one put on a frame like the family of chickens as displayed here. This year, too, she's signed up for the second term of this color clay after class activity. 

As a parent, I am glad that there are numerous activities that children could choose from...according to their taste and preference.

Multicultural Kids Gathering

After watching the Gayageum show, the kids seemed to be adamant of going back home. They thought that it would be too early to go home...so we decided to take them to a nearby playground where we (the parents) could sip some coffee while letting the kids play^^ 

We just let them play ...and luckily it was not that cold today. It was only 6 degrees Celsius and that was warm to our standard.^^ (Look who's talking, tropical suray:)  

We bought them some lunchbox for them to enjoy in between their playtime. 

Actually we did not buy the lunchbox at this Coffee Shop, but since we also bought some coffee here, the host just let the kids have their lunchbox there. 

The coffee-shop also provided one computer for the kids to play the games. I felt like this is intentionally designed so ..in order to let the parents do the chit-chat while their kids play some games...* not to mention the nearby playground where the Cafe was located.^^

All in all...today we did have a great time of taking the kids out..during the weekend. 

미루의 소리 상자: A Gayageum Concert

Today we went to 소월아트홀 Sowol Art Hall at Wangshimni to take the children to see the gayageum orchestra (Korean traditional musical instrument). 

We went there at about 13.30 and we missed the show since we could not find the exit 9 at the Wangshimni station...anyhow..we managed to ge there at 14.05 when the show just began..so we had to wait until the second act began. 

So, we checked out where we would be seated. Eyra and Freya were looking at the seat arrangements at the main hall. 

While waiting to enter the main hall, the kids were enthusiastically touching and playing the displayed gayageum at the entrance. 

It was the scene when the gayageum played by the gayageum orchestra from Sookmyung was beng performed. I took the picture just when the last scene was about to finish. 

I never thought that the endless arrays of sounds could be achieved and come out of the gayageum. It was just amazingly marvelous. 

The orchestra did a wonderful job of perpetuating and exemplifying all kinds of feelings and excitement. 

The sound of wind, tooth being pulled, a swollen tummy due to pregnancy, the tiptoeing, the happy thoughts...you name it, gayageum seemed to be able to express those.

The show was over after an hour or so. The kids got up from their seat... 

Eyra coud understand and enjoy the show since she experienced and could relate herself to what Miru 미루 the main character being portrayed in the play: being a 7-year old girl who had to undergo the feeling of both excitement and anxiety of waiting to have a little brother or sister. This is pretty much what the story was all about . 

After the show... 

At the front facade of 소월아트홀 where the show was being performed. We went there with 11 other kids of multicultural family and Korean families. This activity was one of our weekender program^^ 

The leaflet of the show. 

The synopsis and other info on the show. 

Our seat arrangement.

Freya's been busy

It's late but she was busy ..making stuffs. She was drawing the pictures: fruits, a bus, a house, a teddy bear, a star, and  self-picture of herself^^ Then..she put the pictures on a piece of paper...which was a great thing to do...coz I was amazed at the idea. 

Then...she helped me fold the laundry. Well, I was so happy that she was so attentively understanding. She folded her own t-shirts^^ 

Most of them....nope of course..but most of her t shirts: she did it by herself.

Thank you, Freya...for being such a nice princess.

My Mom, Aunt, and Nephews

Just got the latest pictures of my Mom from my wife who visited my hometown. I love you, Bu. Although I cannot meet you directly ...I am happy to know that you are fine and healthy. Of course, it would be so much greater if I could meet her in person this year. Bismillah..I can go home this summer to meet my Mom. At least for now..my wife just met my mother. 

This is my Mom with her youngest grandson. Barra is my youngest sister's son..that makes him my youngest nephew. 

This is Lala (Barra's sister)..and my Auntie, mbak Andan, with her third grandchild named "Osmond".

Sure, it would've been different had I met them in person..but through the pictures that my wife sent me ...I am happy. 

Alhamdulillah...that all of them are happy, too.

Ice Skating @ Kwangwoon University

Now kids, let's get started. First, those in kindergarten should be in the front and tag along the ski skating instructor of today. Freya, being the smallest one, was in the lead. 

It was Freya's first time ever on ice rink...let alone having any prior experiences of ice skating. But to my surprise, she was eager to do it..though at first...she kept on holding tight on the handrail. 

As for her sister, it was her 3rd time. She's lucky that she got her previous ice skating lessons thanks to her school's program. 

Just look at the kids on their lessons on how to ice skate. They were the kids of multicultural families (except us^^) in Korea. Most of them have multicultural backgrounds: either from their Mom or Dads. 

This is our weekend activity where kids from Korea and other nationals meet and get along together to learn about each other through various activities: This wee: ice skating.

How great it is that this ice rink is just a 15 minute ride by bus or 25 minute ride (including the walking part^6) by subway from home. 

This young instructor patiently taught the kids about how to scoop and skate. Guess he's pretty patient with the kids of  

I just realized that the helmets the children put on their heads were mostly yellow. 

Eyra and Freya did not seem to be scared or afraid at all. In fact, they kind of enjoyed it.

But, after a a while, Freya just gave up. She insisted on taking the skiing boots all the time. 

As for her sister, she kept on doing it and she pretty much got the hang of it and now I could proclaim that she pretty much nailed it. 

Freya and Eyra: separated by a pane of glass. 

Break-time: we were having some snacks, ramen, chocolate, bread, water, and....oranges. 

I thought that after a break, most of them would feel so tired..but we were wrong, almost all of them tried back on skiing I mean...skating. Eyra, too.  

This is when Eyra showed of f what she could accomplice today. In fact, I thought that this has been one of the best things of being in shape and focused on what the training would bring about. 

She kept on going back and forth and circling the rink for more than 12 times.!!! 

In fact, I should have captured all of the moments. 

She pretty much knew nothing about skating until today....everything seemed so wonderful, she said. She was like flying when she scooped over the ice. 

She was about to fall when I captured this.^^ 

But, as soon as she got off again, she kept on looking for her friends...and it seemed that they get along well.

Toay's program was then sealed in Lotte @ Cheongnyangni.